Remembering Betty Staley

By Anne Jacopetti

One of the many books authored by the late Betty Staley. This was a third edition that Ruth Schwartz and Lorna Johnson (both BAIPA members) helped Betty to publish in recent years.

Betty Staley was my inspiration, my teacher, my mentor and my friend. I was a high school English teacher, who was horrified by Reagan’s Back to Basics campaign, with its scripted textbooks and mandated tests, that did not respect teachers or students. After I heard Betty present about Waldorf education I was inspired to resign my position and sign up for a summer course at Rudolf Steiner College where Betty was a presenter. Fortunately, I was also hired by a Waldorf school while I learned about Rudolf Steiner and the foundational precepts of Waldorf education.

Betty was my primary guide through the coming years in summer courses and as a resource as I pioneered a Waldorf high school and then took a class through the grades 1-8. She brought her broad experience (grades 1-12) to her thoughtful seminars and summer courses at Rudolf Steiner College as well as her contributions as an author. Betty specialized in teaching adolescents, and her wonderful text, Between Form and Freedom, is a must read for any teacher guiding students through these challenging years. Cheerful, positive and always moving forward, Betty inspired us all to keep growing and learning. I looked forward to her wisdom every summer as I prepared to meet my next year.

Betty was never dogmatic. She reached out to public school teachers to share some basic principles from Steiner. She traveled. She investigated and wrote books about African culture and literature—a region that was missing from the Eurocentric Waldorf curriculum. She published a text on teaching Russian literature. I consulted Betty after I retired and began to write about my experience.  She reviewed my books (first and second editions). When I had difficulty finding a publisher, I consulted former Marin Waldorf School parent and book publisher, Pamela Fenner (Michaelmas Press) who suggested I follow the advice she had given Betty a few years ago: join BAIPA, attend their Zoom meetings, and consult with Board VP, Ruth Schwartz, the Wonderlady.

I spoke with Betty soon after her latest trip to Europe and was struck by her vitality, her positive energy. She was going forward with her work, and I was surprised to receive a notice from Caring Bridge about her recent illness. I was not surprised to see the large community that surrounded and responded to her condition.  Betty leaves us with a rich legacy through her books and through the students and teachers that she led through the decades. She also shows us how to approach and make the very best of aging – to be fully alive until our moment arrives.  She passes on a wave of gratitude and love that will carry her straight to the source.